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Scandal of Torbay's Empty Homes

By Nicholas Pentney, Jan 15, 2018 2:01

Over 500 homes in Torbay have been sitting empty for 2 years or more, research by the Liberal Democrats has revealed. 40 Homes have sat empty for over 10 years.

The figures, uncovered through Freedom of Information requests, show that there are over 1000 homes across the county that have been empty for six months or more. Of these, 376 had been empty for two years or more, 137 for five years or more, and 40 have stood empty for at least ten years.

Torbay’s Conservative administration has failed to make use of Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMO), powers used by local authorities to take over properties that have been empty for at least six months. This is despite the fact that some local families have spent Christmas without a home.

Nationally only 19 of the 247 councils in England and Wales that responded (the powers do not apply in Scotland) had used an EDMO in the past five years. Of these only six had used one in the past year.

Tormohun Councillor and Torbay Lib Dem Housing Spokesperson, Nick Pentney told the PRSD: “At a time when the homelessness crisis is worsening and more and more people are sleeping out in the cold on our streets, it is a scandal that so many homes locally are sitting empty.

These homes could be turned into affordable places to live for those that need it across Torbay.

“The Government needs to urgently review the current system which is clearly not working and Torbay needs to be given the powers and resources to bring empty homes back into use.

“It is shameful that our Conservative controlled council has failed to use existing powers to end this scandal. Local families have spent Christmas homeless because of Conservative inaction and ineptitude.”

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